Massachusetts special commission recommends system changes

A recently completed report by a special commission into the appropriateness of the Massachusetts retirement system contemplated the defined benefit versus defined contribution benefit design, concluding that the existing defined benefit structure was optimal, in part because it put the portfolio management in the hands of professionals. The report entitled, The Special Commission to Study … Read more

Dump cap-weighted indexing for ‘efficient beta’

  The status quo of ‘passive’ equity investment, ranking companies by market capitalisation, is delivering lower returns for higher volatility than a beta strategy which blends a cap-weighted approach with two of its competitors – minimum variance and fundamental indexing. Michael Bailey spoke to Lazard Asset Management’s Asia Pacific chief, Rob Prugue, about a paper co-written with Research Affiliates which claims to prove it is so.

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Dump cap-weighted indexing for ‘efficient beta’

The status quo of ‘passive’ equity investment, ranking companies by market capitalisation, is delivering lower returns for higher volatility than a beta strategy which blends a cap-weighted approach with two of its competitors – minimum variance and fundamental indexing. Michael Bailey spoke to Lazard Asset Management’s Asia Pacific chief, Rob Prugue, about a paper co-written with Research Affiliates which claims to prove it is so.

Read more